Chain pipe-wrench.



No. 698,780. Patented Apr. 29, |902.

G. AMBURN, JR.

CHAINl PIPE WRENGH.

(Application led July 27, 1901.) y v (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

lllllllilllm lllllll' ilnllllmlmnm innlmmm lllll-Illllillt No. 698,780.Patented 'Apr 29, |902.

G. AMBURN, '1a.

lllllll PE WRENCH.

' oooooo NTM( /I/ #will U'Nrrnn STATES- GEORGE AMBORN, JR., OF BROOKLYN,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOJ. H. VILLIAHS AND COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

CHAIN PI PE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of V:Letters Patent No. 698,780, dated April29, 1902.

Application filed July 27, 1901. Serial No. 69,910. (No model.) l

B is the head, and O is the chain. l f

located adjacent to the end of the handle and '10 all whom it mayconcern: Only a portion of the handle A is shown. 5o

Be it known thatl, GEORGE AMBORN, Jr., a lt is rectangular incross-section where the citizen of the United States, residing in thehead is secured thereto, as shown in Fig. 6,

borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and ithas chain-receivingrecesses a a on op- 5 and city and State ofNew York, haveinvented positefaces and a chain-receiving recess?) on certain new and usefulImprovements in its end to accommodate the links of the cable- 55 ChainPipe-Vrenches, of which the following chain when such chain is employed.It, howis a specification. ever, av at chain is always employed, theseThe object of the present invention is to recesseswill not be necessary.Since, howto produce a reversible chain pipe-wrench in ever, it may bedesirable to use either a dat which the chain can be conveniently usedin or a cable chain with the same wrench, these 6o a variety of ways,and particularly in which recesses in the'k handle are desirable, evenif the chain can have an extended bearing upon the vflat chain is to beordinarily employed.

the pipe. The chainis preferablyaflat chain, The head B is in a singlepiece, and its op- 15 although a cable-chain maybe employed, andposit-e4 faces are suitably serrated, as shown the chain is preferablyused in connection at c, to constitute gripping-faces to enable 65 witha head having serrated grip-surfaces on the Wrench to obtain a securehold upon the its opposite faces, the chain being preferably pipe to'beturned. As usual in this class of y pivoted at or near the apex of thehead and wrenches, the contour of the serrated faces zo being adapted tocooperate with the head, so is such as to enable the wrench to be usedas to squarely embrace a pipe between it and with different sizes ofpipes and when such 7o the head, so that the wrench is adapted to bepipes vary within narrow limits not provided used on Ts, collars,reduced sections of pipe, for by the construction of the veoperating andin analogous situations. chain O. The head is located in line with thez5 The accompanying drawings illustrate one handle, so that alongitudinal plane which biembodiment of the present invention. sectsthe serrated gripping-faces of the head 75 In the drawings, Figure l isa side View of also bisects the handle longitudinally, thus the improvedwrench. Fig. 2 is a face View bringing each gripping-face in line withthe thereof with the chain locked. Fig. 3 is a corresponding face of thehandle. The head 5o face view with the chain not locked. Fig. 4 properhas integral therewith an offset atisalongitudinal sectionin theplaneindicated taching member d, which extends alongside 8o by the line4 4 in Fig. 3, a cable-chain being of one side of the handle, as clearlyshown shown in this ligure instead of the flat chain in Fig. 3, Thisattaching member d is reshown in the preceding figures. Fig. 5 is acessed on its inner side, so as to closely t 3 5 longitudinal section inthe plane indicated by and embrace the handle, as clearly shown in theline 5 5 in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a cross-sec- Fig. G. As shown in Fig. 5and also in Fig. 85 tion in a plane indicated by the line 6 6 in 4, theend of the handle on one side has a Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a longitudinalsection illusprojection e, which iits closely in the end of tratingmodifications. Fig. 8 is a side View the embracing recess of theattaching mem- 4o of the end of the head shown in Fig. 7. ber d, thusforming a seat for the head on For convenience in designating and distheend of the handle, and hence insuring a 9o tinguishing the differentparts of the wrench solid non-slipping connection between the the sidewhich is shown in Fig. 1 and the side head and the handle. The head issecured opposite thereto will be called the sides of to the handle byany suitable means, such as 45 the wrench, while the face which is shownin the rivet D. (Best shown in Fig. 6.) The at Fig. 2 and the faceopposite thereto will be taching member cl of the head is shown pro- 95called the faces of the wrench. vided with ,suitable locking-lugs f tocoper- Referring to the drawings, Ais the handle ate with the chain,which, it will be noted, is

'opposite side.

at the opposi te faces of the handle. Coperatin'g with these locksfareother locks g, simi- 'lar thereto, which are shown as carried by aseparate plate F., which is secured to the side of the handle oppositeto the side where the head is secured. This locking-plate is shown asrecessed on its inner side and embracing lthe end ot' the handle in thesame Way as does the attaching member of the head,"(see Fig. (5,) and itis secured to the end of the handle bythe same rivet D which secures thehead thereto.

The parts of the locking-plate and of the attaching member of the headwhich project beyond the faces ofthe handle are a sufficient distanceapart to form recesses Zz on opposite faces oi" the handle to receivethe chain.

Between the inner end of the head proper and the end of the'handle is anopen-sided transverse chain-receiving passage F, which is closed on oneside by the attaching meinber CZ of the head, but which is open on theThis open-sided chain-receivingr passage is directly in line withv thehead and handle. Considering the inner wall z' (see Figs. 3 and 5) ofthe attaching member cZto constitute the bottom of the chain-receivingpassage, it willbe noted that the depth of this passage is at least asgreat as the thickness of the head proper, so that it can receive thefull width of the chain when said chain is 'passed therethrough, so thatthen lthe tacesot the chain can be directly in line with the grip-facesof the head, as will clearly appear when the construction andarrangement of thechain are considered.

Preferably the chain is of the flat-chain type, as shown in Figs. l and2, although a cable-chain can be employed, as shown in Fig. 4. The iiatchain is composed ot similarlinks, the links being arranged insuccession, with a pair of parallel internal links jj lying side by sideand a pair of parallel external links lc kembracing the linkstj'yl andpivotallyconnected'by a cross-pin G,`preferably connected iininovably(by upsetting or endwise compression) with the outer links 7c 7c andpassing loosely between the inner linksjj, which swivel thereon.

v The terminal link connecting the chain and the head is shown ascomposed of two links Z Z, which embrace or straddle the first pair ofthe external links 7c 7c, (see Fig. 5,) and to maintain this first pairof links spaced apart Washers m m are interposed, which surround thefirst link-pin G, which pinv is secured by riveting to the terminalllinks Z Z, and around which the first links 7c Zr, of the chain turnand upon which said Washcrs are loose. These terminal links Z Z of thechain are pivoted by a connecting-pin H, which is carried by the head ator near its apex. This connecting-pin may be of any suitableconstruction; but, as shown, it passes loosely through an aperture inthe apex of the head and loosely through the terminal links Z Z, so thatsaid terminal links swivel freely. thereon, and its ends are expanded byupsetting, so as to be held in place. The head at its apex is recessedon opposite sides, as shown at fn, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) so as toaccommodate the pivoting ends ot' the terminal links Z Z. Consequentlyno part of the chain need project beyond the planeet` the sides of thehead, the result being that the extreme width of the chain isapproximately equal to and need be no greater than the thickness of thehead. The pins G G of the chain project outwardly-'on both sides ot' thechain to constitute projectingI locking-studs, 'which are adapted tointerlock with the locksfand g at or near the end of the handle. Theselocking-studs may be omittedV throughout that portion of the chainnearest the connecting of pivot-pin H, which can under no circumstancesregister with the locks fand g, and hence only appear in Fig. 2 at thatportion of the chain which is nearestrthe handle. The chain beingpivotally connected to th head at or near theapex thereof isreversible-that is to say, it can-be swung in either direction and usedwhen so swung. In Whichever way the chain is swung it may be used ineither ofV two ways, one Way being illustrated in Figs. land 2 and theother Way being illustrated in Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. l and 2, thechain is passed around the pipe to be turned, (Fig. 1 illustrating itpassing around a tiange onthe pipe to be turned,.) and the vchain isthen passed through'the opensided chain-receiving passage F, and thechain is then locked by one of its locking-pins G engaging the locksfand g at the face of the handle opposite where the pipe is located.Calling the apex of the head the front of the wrench, it will be notedthat the chain is locked behind the chain-receiving passage F. This, itWill be noted, enables the chain to embrace alarge portion of theperiphery ofthe pipe (or pipe-collar) to be turned, thus insuring anexceedingly eficient hold on the pipe, thereby preventing anypossibility of slipping during the working stroke of the handle. It willbe noted that owing to the chain-receiving passage F being at least asdeep as the thickness of the head, and'hence of the width of thechain,the chain when passed through said passage and locked in'placeextends around the pipe to be turned squarely without any twist to thechain, thereby enabling the pipe to be squarely embraced between thechain on one IOO IIO

side and the grip-face of vthe head which is then in use. The fact thatthe chain-passage is open on one side is of very great importance andadvantage, since it enables .the chain to be passed through said passagewith convenience and ease. With a Hat chain there is sufticient lateralflexibility to enable thefreeend of the chain to be laid into the openmouth of the chain-receiving passage, and the chain can then be readilyand conveniently drawn through said passage. To facilitatel the entranceof the end of the chain into this passage, the Walls of the passage atits entrance are rounded or beveled off, as

clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The open side or month of thispassage-head is of very great convenience, especially where the wrenchis being used in diflicult situations-as, for example, at the bottom ofa trench which is dug just below a water, gas, or other pipe-where thechain is to be carried beneath the pipe and thence upwardly through thechain-receiving passage F. Instead, however, of the chain being passedthrough the chain-receiving passage it can be'used in the ordinary waycommon to chain wrenches, as shown in Fig. 4-that is to say, the chaincan be locked on the same face of the handle where the pipe is locatedwithout necessitating the chain being passed through the chain-receiving passage. This capacity is ofespecial advantage, since inperhaps the great majority of instances the wrench can be efficientlyused with the chain locked, as in Fig. 4, without necessitatingthepassing of the chain through the chain-receiving passage; but if theexigencies in a particular case require a greater grip upon the pipe thechain can then be passed through the chain-receiving passage and lockedon the opposite face behind the passage. However the chain may be used,it will be noted that the chain is locked behind the passage F by lockswhich are carried at or near the end ofthe handle, so that there issubstantially no danger of breaking the head off as the result of use.

iVhile it is preferred to use the flat chain, a cable-chain, such as isshown in Fig. 4, may be elnployed. This chain is an ordinarycable-chain, except that it is provided with a terminal coupling I, bymeans of which it is pivoted to the head at or near its apex.

Vhichever kind of chain is employed, it is pivoted at or nea-r the apexof the head, which is of especial importance, since the chain is therebyrendered reversible-that is to say, it can be swung in either direction,therebyT utilizing both grip-faces of the head-and as a consequence thewrench can be conveniently used upon collars, fittings, reducedpipe-sections, and the like, since whatever portion of the pipe isoperated upon it is squarely held .between the chain on the one side andthe head on the other. This is also of importance, since it brings allthe strains in line with the length of the handle, so that there is notwisting strain upon the head or any other portion of the wrench. Inthis connection it will be noted that the same medial plane whichbisects the handle longitudinally between the locks fand g also bisectsthe head and chain. Owing, also, to the chain being pivoted at the apexof the head, it can be passed through the chain-receiving passage F ineither direction and can be locked at either face of the handle whetherused as in Fig. l or as in Fig. 4.

The improved wrench is an economical one to make and to keep in repair.These wrenches most frequently require repairing on account of thebreaking or wearing of the gripping-teetli,.and in case such repairingis necessary it is effected economically, since the head is in a singlep iece, economically made, and it can be readily removedfrom the handleand a new head substituted. The head might be made all in one piece withthe handle; but it is preferable to make it in a singlepiece, both inorderto facilitate repair and because it is desirable that it be made ofa superior quality of steel to that employed for the handle. It will benoted that the chainreceiving passage is formed neither in the head norin the handle alone, but is formed bythe gap between the outer end ofthe handie. and the inner end of the head proper.

Attention has been called to the fact that when the pipe to be operatedupon is below the head the chain is slipped into the chainpassage byraising it and moving it sidewise at the same time; but when the wrenchis below the pipe it is sufficient to merely drop the end of thechaininto said passage.

The locks g g need not be on a separate plate secured by riveting orotherwise to the handle, but may be forged directly on the handle at ornear its end. This is especially desirable in case the wrench is to beused close to a wall or in an analogous situation, since then no part ofthe handle need project materially beyond the plane of the side of thehead where the mouth of the chain-passage F is located. The projectionof the locks g g, which is shown in the drawings, is due to the factthat they are adapted to engage with a cable-chain as Well as with afiat chain. vIl", however, a iiat chain is solely to be used, the outerside 'of the handle, including the locks on the side where thechain-,receivin g passage is open, can be almost flush with thecorresponding side of the head, thus greatly facilitating the use of thewrench in close quarters. Also in case a flat chain is exclusively to beused the recesses d and b in the handle can be omitted. l

The handle can be square on the end instead of provided with theprojection e, as shown.

This style of wrench, with solid head and locks on the end of the handleback of the chain-opening, can be arranged with gripping-teeth on oneface of the head only; but

,the reversible construction shown is preferable.

The location of the locking-pins G along the chain, in connection withthe contour of the grip-faces of the head, is sufficient to provide forany ordinary adjustment to fit different sizes of'pipe. In case,however, ner adjustment is required the chain need not be `pivoteddirectly at the apex,but may be pivoted in the manner set forth in mycompanion application, Serial No. 69,210, led July 22, 190l.-that is tosay, it may be pivoted a little to one sidethat is to say,eccentricallyso that the reach from the pivot to the locking-studs onone side may be greater than the reach when the chain is swung in theoppo- IOO IIO

I l d l site direction, and by making this difference equal to aboutone-halt` the distance between adjacent points G a fine adjustment issecured.

A universal or gimbal joint may be used between the chain and the head,so as to allow lateral movement to the chain, which may facilitate theentrance of the chain into the mouth of the passage F; but ordinarilythere is sufficient lateral play in the chain Vto permit its end to bereadily passed into the mouth ot' said passage. Such a gimbal-joint isillustrated in Figs. rfand S, wherein the pivot-pin H and the terminallinks Z Z of the chain are united by agimbal-joint comprising two couplings J and K, pivoted to each other bya pin L, the coupling Jbeingpivoted to the pin H, the Ycoupling K being pivotally connected to theterminal links Z Z by means of the first cross-pin Gof the chain, andthe pin L being at right angles both to pin H and to pin G.

In case a cable-chain is used the recess b to receive the same can be inthe near end ot' the head proper, as shown in Fig. 7, instead of in theend of the handle, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, or the passage F can bemade wide enough to accommodate the links of the cable-chain withoutemploying such recesses.

The lock-plate E may be forged in one piece with the extension orattaching member d of the head and arranged with a socket to receive theend of the handle, if desired, as shown in Fig. 7, the handle being thensecured in any desirable way, either by riveting, by a bolt, or by beingscrewed into the socket, as shown in Fig. 7.

Other modifications will readily suggest themselves to askilledmechanic; but enough has been stated to show that the wrench can bemodied in many ways Without departing from the spirit and gist of theinvention.

I claim as my invention- 1. A chain pipe-wrench having a handle, a head,the head and the handle being so related to each other as to leave anopen-sided chain-receiving passage between said head and handle, a chainattached to the head and adapted to be'passed through said passage, andlocks behind said passage to engage said chain.

2. A chain pipe-wrench having, in combination, a handle, a head, achain-receiving passage, a chain pivotally connected to the head at ornear its apex and adapted to be passed through said passage, and locksto engage said chain behind said passage.

3. A chain pipe-wrench having, in combination, a handle, a head securedto one side of said handle and having opposite grip-faces substantiallyin line with The faces of the handle, said head extending beyond the endof the handle so as to provide an open-sided chain-receiving passage,locks on both faces of the wrench behind said passage, and a reversibleflat chain pivotally connected to the head at or near the apex andadapted to be passed through said passage in either direction and lockedby one set of said locks, or to be locked on either face of the wrenchwithout being passed through said passage.

4. A chain pipe-wrench having, in combination,'a handle, a head securedto one side of said handle and having opposite grip-faces substantiallyin line with the faces of the handle, said head extending beyond the endof the handle so as to provide an open-sided chain-receiving passage,locks on both faces of the Wrench, and a reversible iiat chain pivotallyconnected to the head at or near the apex and adapted to be passedthrough said passage in either direction and locked by one set of saidlocks, or to be locked on either face of the wrench without being passedthrough said passage.

5. A chain pipe-Wrench having, in combination, a handle, a head securedto one side of said handle and having opposite grip-faces substantiallyin line with the faces of the handle, said head extending beyond the endof the handle so as to provide an open-sided chain-receiving passage,locks on both faces of the wrench, and a reversible chain pivotallyconnected to the head at or near the apex and adapted to be passedthrough said passage in either direction and locked by one set of saidlocks, or to be locked on either fac-e of the wrench without beingpassed through said passage.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of`two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE AMBORN, J R.

Witnesses:

F. E. BOWEN, C. M. CRocKER.

IOO

